Layered double hydroxide as novel antibacterial drug delivery system

The cephalosporin class antibacterial agent, cefazolin, was intercalated into layered double hydroxides (LDHs) in order to improve the drug efficiency as well as to achieve the controlled release property. Cefazolin molecules were incorporated into LDH through conventional ion exchange reaction. X-ray diffraction pattern analyses confirmed that cefazolin molecules were intercalated between the interlayer spaces of LDH. Fourier-transform infrared spectra and high performance liquid chromatographs clearly showed that the drug molecules were stabilized in LDH lattice through electrostatic interaction and released without any changes in their chemical integrity. Antibacterial activity of the cefazolin-LDH nanohybrid was also examined by an in vitro test, such as the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) by dilution method. Consequently, the cefazolin-LDH nanohybrid revealed an enhanced antibacterial activity compared to the cefazolin itself not only due to an improvement of chemical stability of cefazolin molecules but also due to a controlled release property.